Castor, Kathy RSS ArticlesCastor, Kathy RSS Articleshttp://castor.house.gov/
Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMThttp://backend.userland.com/rssRSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/Castor: Short-term budget measure a fitting symbol of U.S. House Republicans’ failure to govern<p>U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement on the short-term funding bill:</p>
<p>“House Republicans end the session with a fitting symbol of their failure to govern -- a funding bill that fails to meet the needs of our hardworking neighbors and families and covers only a few months in the new year. Speaker Ryan and House Republicans adjourned the House in mid-July and spent only a few days since then doing the job to which they were elected.&nbsp;The Congressional Republican funding measure creates uncertainty for communities like mine and all across the country and hamstrings agencies -- especially those established to keep our country safe.&nbsp;Short-term measures do not allow an opportunity to plan for the future or to make educated, timely, tough decisions about where to cut or augment.</p>
<p>“Congressional Republicans appear ready to inflict greater economic damage to hardworking families in the new year as Republicans are poised to return to the days of trickle-down economics where the wealthy special interests receive major tax cuts, while the vast majority of Americans pay and the growing debt becomes a shell game.&nbsp;President-Elect Trump’s cabinet nominees certainly set the table for that to happen.&nbsp;I intend to shine a bright light on the inequities driven by special interests who intend to make Washington work for them, now that the backstop of a Democrat in White House will be gone.”</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398288Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMTU.S. Rep. Castor travels with POTUS to Tampa<p>Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) is accompanying President Barack Obama on Air Force One to travel to Tampa, FL in support of his visit with active duty members at MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Special Operations Command, &nbsp;the 6<sup>th</sup> Air Mobility Wing and U.S. Central Command. Rep. Castor is also traveling with the President in support of the&nbsp;counterterrorism campaign he has directed as Commander-in-Chief. </p>
<p>“The security and safety of my community and our nation is paramount and President Obama has been committed to a broad framework for counterterrorism to preserve our security while upholding our country’s highest ideals,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “The responsibilities of Special Operations forces at MacDill AFB have been central to counterterrorism and our ability to stay out of reckless wars. I will be vigilant in working to ensure that our Special Operations forces receive the resources they need to fulfill their critical missions and keep us safe. </p>
<p>“The men and women in uniform who serve at MacDill are outstanding and I am enormously proud of them.&nbsp;They have shouldered the weight of America's national security in a chaotic world full of threats and challenges.&nbsp;President Obama remained committed throughout his presidency to the security of America. He redeployed ground troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan as promised, killed Osama bin Laden, strengthened the special operations mission, built vital international coalitions, and boosted military families along the way. I am proud to accompany him to Tampa and MacDill today.”</p>
<p>President Obama and U.S. Rep. Castor departed Joint Base Andrews, arrive at Tampa International Airport and will return to Washington, D.C. after the visit.</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398287Tue, 06 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMTU.S. Rep. Castor's Statement Regarding the 2017 National Defense Authorization ActU.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) released the following statement regarding the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.<br />
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“I am pleased that a number of provisions in the bill passed today could benefit the Airmen and their families who serve at MacDill Air Force Base, including a 2.1 percent pay raise for our troops and their families and an authorization for an Army Reserve Center/Aviation Support Facility on base.&nbsp;<br />
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“I have talked with many MacDill families who want to send their children to Tinker Elementary School on base since it provides students with a support system, counselors and administrators who understand the unique needs and challenges of military families. I have worked with a number of people in the community to expand Tinker to include grades six, seven and eight, but more work needs to be done to address the overcrowding and build permanent structures for students. I was able to have language included in the final NDAA bill that would update a 2011 assessment of public schools on Department of Defense installations. This reassessment will hopefully give Tinker a fighting chance at moving up on the list to receive resources to build permanent structures for students to learn in the best possible environment.<br />
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“I was also pleased that the 2017 NDAA did not include a number of provisions that politicized the usually bipartisan bill. The bill I voted on today did not include a budget gimmick that my Republican colleagues used in the House version earlier this spring, which took $18 billion from Overseas Contingency Operations to spend on items not requested by the Administration. This would have meant that our troops in combat would have run out of money by April 30, 2017, which was unacceptable. Additionally, a provision that was included in the House version was stripped, which would have allowed discrimination against LGBT and other individuals by federal contractors and grant recipients.”<br />
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398286Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT21st Century Cures passes U.S. House with a boost for medical research<p>Medical researchers at the Moffitt Cancer Center and University of South Florida are likely beneficiaries as are families who struggle with cancer, Alzheimer's and opioid addiction of the <b>21<sup>st</sup> Century Cures</b> legislation that passed last night in the U.S. House with overwhelming bipartisan support, announced U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14).&nbsp;</p>
<p>The <b>21<sup>st</sup> Century Cures</b> bill includes $1.5 billion for President Obama’s Precision Medicine Initiative, $1.8 billion for Vice President Biden’s cancer “moonshot” initiative, $1.5 billion for a program focused on enhanced understanding of brain-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and $1 billion for communities struggling with opioid addiction.</p>
<p>“These initiatives will save lives and provide hope for the cures of tomorrow,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “Plus, because Tampa Bay is home to prestigious research institutes&nbsp;and a growing biomedical sector, such&nbsp;investments should boost higher-wage jobs.”</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/fjSot_MnZ1k">View all of U.S. Rep. Castor’s remarks made on the House floor yesterday on the need for America to remain on the cutting edge of medical innovation and increase higher-wage jobs.</a> </p>
<p>Dr. Bill Dalton, CEO of M2Gen, a Moffitt Cancer Center biotechnology company, also expressed support for these initiatives included in the <b>21<sup>st</sup> Century Cures</b> bill: “In this time of unprecedented promise in medical research and innovation, we are especially grateful for the infusion of funding to the NIH that the Cures bill would bring. It will allow us to seize the scientific opportunities that lie before us, especially in exciting areas such as Precision Medicine Initiative and the cancer ‘moonshot’ program.”</p>
<p>In addition, the legislative package includes the bipartisan <b>Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act</b>, which was introduced by&nbsp;U.S. Reps. Castor and Herrera Beutler (R-WA).</p>
<p>“The Safe Medications for Moms and Babies Act ensures that expectant mothers and their doctors have adequate and accurate information about medications used during pregnancy and when nursing to facilitate the best health outcomes,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “Experts advised that we need focused research to assess the risks of current medications on the market to mothers and babies. U.S. Rep. Herrera Beutler has been a champion for families and I am grateful to her for leading this effort to improve the quality of data and information on medication use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.”</p>
<p>While new investments in research are welcome, U.S. Rep. Castor expressed concern that the Cures bill does not address the price hikes of prescription drugs, especially after many lawmakers recently called out Mylan corporation during a congressional hearing for its outrageous price increases of EpiPen:&nbsp; “Life-saving treatments should not be out of reach for our neighbors. This should have been opportunity to stand up for families and consumers by reigning in record-setting prescription drug spending.”</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398282Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMTU.S. Rep. Castor announces her 2016 nominations to U.S. military academies<p>Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor announced the high school students who received her official nomination for admission into the nation’s military academies:&nbsp; Air Force (USAFA), Naval (USNA), Military (USMA) and Merchant Marine (USMMA).<br />
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“I am proud to have so many students who are interested in serving America,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “These impressive students are tomorrow’s leaders and by applying to a military academy are demonstrating their commitment to working hard for an excellent education and serving our country. &nbsp;Nominations are earned based upon an interview with the Congressional District 14 Nomination Committee and each student’s individual academic record, extracurricular activities and leadership qualities.&nbsp; Because of the stringent application requirements, most students begin preparing for their application as early as their first years of high school.<br />
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“I am appreciative of the time and effort of the Nomination Committee – members reviewed each nomination application and met with students individually.”<br />
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U.S. Rep. Castor will announce official “appointments” at a later date per notification by the military academies.&nbsp;Today’s announcement completes U.S. Rep. Castor’s 2016 competitive nomination process and nominated students who receive an appointment from a military academy will begin for the 2017-2018 school year.<br />
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All military academies, except the Coast Guard Academy, based upon U.S. law, require a nomination from their congressional representative, senator or the Vice President of the United States as part of the application process. Parents and students interested in the nomination process will find more information at <a href="http://www.castor.house.gov">www.castor.house.gov</a><br />
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U.S. Rep. Castor granted her nomination to the following students for one or more of the U.S. military academies:<br />
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<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ryan Acevedo, Middleton HS – USAFA</li>
<li>Alexander Bremmer, Plant HS – USAFA</li>
<li>Jacob Dennis, Osceola Fundamental HS – USMMA, USNA</li>
<li>Devon Gadarowski, Plant HS – USAFA, USMA</li>
<li>Brittney Gray, Middleton HS – USNA</li>
<li>Roberto Grimaldi, Tampa Catholic HS – USNA </li>
<li>Matthew Hafer, Plant HS – USMA, USNA</li>
<li>Erin Hanson, Lennard HS – USMA</li>
<li>Kaiser Hartmann, Jesuit HS – USNA </li>
<li>Desmond Henderson, Benedictine College Preparatory – USAFA, USMA </li>
<li>Nicholas Hobson, Plant HS – USMA, USNA</li>
<li>Clayton Hurd, Plant HS – USAFA, USNA</li>
<li>Justin Jaikaran, East Bay – USAFA, USMMA</li>
<li>Destiny Johnson, Plant HS – USMMA </li>
<li>Katherine Kraemer, Robinson HS – USAFA, USMA</li>
<li>Jacob Kuzmick, Plant HS – USAFA, USNA</li>
<li>Anna LoGrande, Plant HS – USAFA </li>
<li>Alesandro Maxwell, Berkeley Preparatory School – USAFA, USMA</li>
<li>Payton Paro, Plant HS – USNA </li>
<li>Herbert Saumell, Lennard HS – USMA, USNA</li>
<li>Maria Somrah, Newsome HS – USMMA </li>
<li>Adam Swanson, Alonso HS – USMA</li>
</ul>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398280Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMTStatement by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14):“Cuban families and small business owners are eager to accelerate economic and human rights reforms and America must continue to support them, especially Tampa Bay area community leaders who have been at the forefront of progress and change.
<p>“With the election of Donald Trump, hardliners opposed to diplomatic relations and engagement with everyday Cubans have urged an end to new flights, travel, and cooperative efforts. Slamming the door shut at this point in time would be disastrous. Instead, Fidel Castro's death should encourage all of us to meet the challenge of better diplomatic relations, economic opportunities for Cubans and Americans, expanded travel, and support for the dignity of the Cuban people.”</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398279Sat, 26 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMTU.S. Rep. Castor's statement on passing of local Olympian, Theresa A. Manuel<p>U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) issued the following statement on local Olympian, Theresa A. Manuel, who passed away in Tampa on Nov. 21. </p>
<p>“The Tampa community has lost a history-maker and long-time educator, Theresa Manuel. She shattered barriers by becoming the first African-American woman from Florida to compete in the Olympics. She then spent her lifetime championing students as an educator and coach at Middleton and Hillsborough high schools – motivating them to win on the field and in life. Tampa has been dubbed a City of Champions, and Ms. Manuel was one of them.”</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398277Wed, 23 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT31st Annual "Trouble in Toyland" Survey Spotlights Recalled Toys<p><em>This news release was issued by Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital</em><br />
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As shoppers set out to buy holiday gifts, colorful toys will catch the eye of children and adults. However, some toys can have hidden dangers, exposing children to dangerous chemicals or injury-causing hazards.</p>
<p>At a November 22 toy safety press conference at <a href="https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/home">Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital</a>, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor urged families to pay close attention to information available online to guide them in choosing safe toys this holiday season. Held at Johns Hopkins All Children’s, the event highlighted Trouble in Toyland: the 31st Annual Survey of Toy Safety by the Florida PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Education Fund. The survey has resulted in more than 150 recalls and regulatory actions during its more than 30 years.</p>
<p>“Toys continue to be a challenge on a daily basis,” said <a href="http://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/find-a-doctor/practitioner-details/wassam--m--rahman">Dr. Wassam Rahman</a>, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, during the event.</p>
<p>Even with labeling requirements and structurally safer toys, the reality is that some 200,000 children are treated every year in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries. With so many toys available, consumers should remain alert as they browse shops and the internet for hazardous recalled toys that may still be available for purchase.<br />
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<p>‎"Playing it safe &nbsp;with a quick and easy check to&nbsp;<b><a target="_BLANK" href="http://recalls.gov/">recalls.gov</a></b>&nbsp;will help keep families safe and our smallest consumers out of the emergency rooms this holiday season and year-round. Last year there were 254,200 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments," said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14)‎.&nbsp;"The number of recalled toys has decreased dramatically since the landmark Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was passed in 2008, but toy purchases have expanded beyond the shelves of traditional stores to online communities of sales and exchanges, where parents, grandparents and other caregivers should remain vigilant about hazardous toys."</p>
<p>As more consumers shift to online shopping, Trouble in Toyland has shifted its focus to look at previously recalled toys that may still be available for purchase through Internet retailers or that families may already have at home. The latest survey, now available on the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uspirgedfund.org/issues/usf/trouble-toyland-2016">Florida PIRG</a> site, looks at toys recalled from January 2015 to October 2016 and investigates if these toys are still available for purchase online. Of the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uspirgedfund.org/page/usf/list-recalled-toys">44 items detailed in the report</a>, 8 items were still able to be obtained from online retailers.<br />
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Toy recalls, such as the ones noted in the report, happen for a variety of reason, but they can be organized into a few main categories:</p>
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<li><strong>High levels of chemicals</strong> – Phthalates (often found in certain plastics) and lead (commonly in paint and jewelry items) can adversely affect development.</li>
<li><strong>Excessive noise</strong> – Young children have delicate eardrums and toys that are too loud can damage hearing. If it sounds too loud, it probably is.</li>
<li><strong>Choking hazards from small parts</strong> including small balls/marbles – If a toy part can fit through a standard toilet paper roll it is a potential choking hazard for children age 3 and younger. Balloons and small balls should not be given to children younger than 6.</li>
<li><strong>Magnets</strong> – Magnets are becoming smaller and more powerful. When two or more are ingested they can bind together and cause serious intestinal damage. Keep magnetic items intended for adults, as well as toys with magnets that could come loose, away from children.</li>
<li><strong>Batteries</strong> – If swallowed, batteries can leak acid causing severe injury. Button batteries are in many toys and are easy for young children to swallow. Additionally, some toys have rechargeable batteries that require USB charging cables which can cause burns if overheated.</li>
<li>Other hazards such as falls or lacerations resulting from the toy breaking. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
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<p>While it is easy to track down consumers who purchased items such as automobiles and car seats when they are recalled, many caregivers may not know if a toy they own or are considering purchasing has been recalled unless they are diligently checking websites such as the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls">U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)</a> website.</p>
<p>It takes the combined effort of advocates, legislators and parents/caregivers to ensure that playtime is safe for all children. Consumers can use these resources to search for and report unsafe toys:</p>
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<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.uspirgedfund.org/issues/usf/avoiding-dangerous-toys">USPIRGEdFund.org</a> has tips for selecting safe toys for children.</li>
<li>Check the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls">CPSC website</a> for the latest information about toy recalls or call their hotline at (800) 638-CPSC to report a toy you think is unsafe.</li>
<li>Visit <a target="_blank" href="http://www.saferproducts.gov/Default.aspx">SaferProducts.gov</a> to search for recalls and report unsafe toys.</li>
<li>Sign up for recall alerts from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.recalls.gov/">Recalls.gov</a>.</li>
<li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.safekids.org/product-recalls">Safe Kids Worldwide</a> offers an up-to-date list of recalled items.</li>
</ul>http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398278
http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398278Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMTU.S. House passes HR985, local manufacturers win big <p>As lead cosponsor of the bipartisan <b>Concrete Masonry Products, Research, Education and Promotion Act</b>, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) hailed this week’s 355-38 vote for passage of her bill by the U.S. House of Representatives as a big win for local manufacturers and jobs in Tampa Bay area, Florida and throughout the country. </p>
<p>“Local manufacturers and many across Florida worked diligently with me to boost jobs in the concrete masonry industry through this legislation.&nbsp;If signed into law, businesses will have the ability to pool resources for research and to develop safer, more durable and more efficient products which would be a boon for building construction,” U.S. Rep. Castor said. “This bill supports an industry made up of primarily small, local businesses that create local jobs in the competitive construction market.”</p>
<p>U.S. Rep. Castor added:&nbsp; “Buildings made of structurally-strong materials, such as concrete block, are vital to reduce the impacts of property insurance losses as the climate changes and Florida experiences more extreme weather events. Producers also will be able to develop durable, energy-efficient and affordable products that are better able to withstand volatile weather conditions in their particular regions, such as seismic events in the West or extreme weather in the Southeast. </p>
<p>“This legislation is a win for jobs and our local manufacturers. Nationwide, construction workers average higher wages and this legislation will bolster Florida’s construction employment made up of nearly half-million workers – which is already up by 6 percent over last year and outpacing the nation’s 3&nbsp; percent increase. Our numerous small manufacturers across the state can now seek to develop more resilient and more energy efficient building materials, remain competitive and most importantly create local manufacturing and construction jobs.” </p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398274Wed, 16 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMTNew AARP report highlights significant out-of-pocket costs for family caregivers <p>A <a href="http://www.aarp.org/caregivercosts">new AARP report</a> issued today details the out-of-pocket costs for caregivers in the United States – on average, family caregivers are spending <b>20 percent</b> of their total income on caregiving expenses. This builds on last year’s AARP family caregiving report, which revealed the number of family caregivers in the United States – about 40 million, with Florida home to nearly 2.7 million of these caregivers. </p>
<p>“Addressing family caregiving is becoming a new normal in health care because family caregivers are making startling personal sacrifices in time as well as out-of-pocket expenses. A closer look at the work-related effects as well as the personal financial hardships shows the increasing need to come together to better understand the needs of our caregivers,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14), who filed the bipartisan <b>RAISE Family Caregivers Act</b> to create a much-needed National Family Caregiving Strategy with recommendations by experts related to support services, training, workplace policies and others to better support caregivers. </p>
<p>“In Florida, 2.7 million caregivers are providing 2.5 billion of unpaid hours taking on a wide range of activities from managing finances, transportation and housework to medication management, bathing and dressing. On top of that, this new report on out-of-pocket costs shows us that on a nationwide average, 20 percent of caregivers’ income is devoted to caregiving expenses.”</p>
<p>The report shows that baby boomers (ages 51-70), who themselves are approaching retirement, make up the largest percentage of caregivers – 46 percent. In addition, 85 percent of care recipients are 50 years or older, and the annual average spending to care for someone with dementia is $10,697, or nearly twice as much as the annual average spending for other care recipients. This means a big impact for our neighbors and families:&nbsp; More than 3 million of Florida’s population are 50 years or older and by 2025, Hillsborough County is projected to have more than 30,000 cases of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. </p>
<p>“We must ensure that family caregivers have the resources and tools they need to face the demands of their current work, can take family leave when they need to, and ensure that their loved one receives the care he or she needs. I am proud to work with AARP to elevate the role of caregivers, but as the complexity and intensity of family caregiving increases, a nationwide blueprint will help boost families and be smart and efficient with our resources,” U.S. Rep. Castor added.</p>
<p>(RAISE = Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage)</p>
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http://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398273Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT